The Penn's Grove record., 1887-04-16
LIFE on rHE rnnxr,rna
The Experience Of = Pennsxrove Bey
a. = Cow BOY on the Plains.


On March Goth, 1854, / started for
the frontier of Nebraska, and there
served five mouths rs a COW boy. where
one is accustomed to look into a revolt
yer and where every one wears them
in their holsters or belts. Before re-
lating my travels back | will tell you a
few things. A herd OF cattle consists
Of a thousand head or less. One man is
supposed to take charge Of as many as
four bundled alone. | had nearly i've
hundred, and my only companion was
a dog. | only SAN five Nebraska lain
storms, CO sisting OF hail nearly as
large as hen eggs, demolishing every
thing in its path; fields of wheat, rye,
and corr cut clean to the ground. Il
CONES with such force with the wind
as to cut off the stalks of sunfowers as
large as ones arm. The first thing in
the fall when making hay is to stack it
around the barn and other out build
ings to serve as a wind break. ! have
seen 1t so windy while herding one
could scarcely hold on to a horse. |
had the pleasure to be out only once
when the cattle got on a stampede.
As | saw the storm approaching /
rounded up" the cattle and at once
got ready for a stampede, which |
found soon followed. These storms
are called billiards; they are very se-
we're. more so than any ordinary storm,
which is bad enough. at never rains
but ii pours," is the old saying. Just
before | started home a company of us
INDUCED in All excursion to Fort Mo
brara. Our travels took us through
famous Elkhorn Valley, one of the
most fertile portions of the State,
which is spotted here and there With
little towns,
1t is a pretty country IS one wishes
to SEE. We went via Neigh, on the
). {. & +. r. r.. as far as Valen-
tine, it western terminus. Here rail-
way facilities cease and the traveller
whose destination lies further west
must GO with a team Or on horse bac k,
OF on the hurricane deck of Il broncho.
After leaving Valentine we next
stopped at Fort Niobrara; ashert stop
was made to call on Spotted Tails son,
confined in the guard house on Il
charge Of killing another Indian on
the Rose Bud Agency. After leaving
Fort Niobrara we were struck by the
strange ineongrnity exhibited by the
hundred pounds of telegraph wire that
was strewn along the trail and could
be seen piled up every few miles, just
as il was left by the Indians who were
forced by the severity of the weather
to cut the telegraph poles down for
iirewoOd, OF freeze to death. The roll
ling prairie is rendered dolbly desolate
by the total absence of timber except a
stunted growth along the creeks and
small water courses, tile plains be-
ing covered with grass, and the soil is
more or less sandy. The contrast is
more strongly felt when after travelling
two DAYS and nights, aud sleeping OF,
the parties. We caught several fishes
along the creeks, and shot some prairie
chickens, these being our chief susten-
The greatest annoyance was the
OF the mosquitoes. We we're
satisfied we never saw mosquitoes be-
fore. The Kind We have are infants
compared with them. They are so
bloOdthirsty as to stampede horses aud
Our next stop was at Long
Pine Agency. The property is enclosed
be IA wire fence 6 to 8 feet high and is
clean and neat, being cared for just rs
ordinary government posts. The COM
and quartermaste Ell departments
are managed with military regularity
and precision. The whole agency is
kept under a police contr oil of about 80
natives or half breeds Indians chosen
for bravery or good conduct. The is
suing of cattle to the Indians is an in
.eresting spectacle to visitors. A regu-
ar list of names of those entitled to
lraw beet nations is kept. Previous
o the issue the cattle are kept for IL
hours without food or water. When
he time arrives a name is called of
from the list and the brave appears on
horse back and well armed. \ steer
IS turned loose and run out of the
gate, Wien the Indian al once gives
chase, running II as far as ne
then killing il. The
next is called Until he list IS exhaust
ID. After the animal IL killed the
'Quaws cume up with their sacks and
in thirty minutes every particle Is pick
d up aud carried on. Ii is customary
fife this 10 have a dance. which we
lid not get To see. A forced march al
% or 20 miles TO get pure water with
mt alkali, the total absence OF any
lind of shelter. the tr~uitless search tor
wood, the difficulty of lariatiug horses,
ne more ~distractiDg than fraught with
pleasure while travelling on the great
american desert. On the trip herds
II buffalos, deers and a~ntelop-s were
zen. Here and there II flock OF prai-
lie chickens fled from cover oniy tn
make the desolation of the country
more complete. We arrived back to
,ur starting place safe and sound. much
IDEAS "a with ohr trip.
Horace Greeley advises the tSpleal
Dung man to 20 West. The WEST eS-
ends the sarne salutars counsel 10 Inc
uperlGous young woman whose name
! legion here. Governor SOUR" OF
Washington Territory, informs Us 'ii@'
80 Ead fan.llA SNlfgtl e